A question regarding DN 31:28.2

Q & A
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My question comes from the segment “(…) I’ll maintain the family lineage (…)” from DN 31:28.2
When the Buddha said “maintain the family lineage”, does that mean following the past traditions of your family, even if they’re not related to the Dharma?

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kulavaṁsaṁ is the lineage as in the family tree? Like, supporting your relatives?

Surely the Buddha did not mean following adhamma traditions blindly. The Buddha many times criticized e.g. animal sacrifices even though they were traditional.

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To me, this reads like taking care of parents, parents siblings, grandparents, elder cousins etc. ie taking care of relatives who are older than you. It might also be remembering relatives who have passed away at the appropriate times.

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Buddhaghosa takes the expression as encompassing three duties on the part of a son: good stewardship of his parents’ property, moral correction (if needed) and maintaining the family’s customary philanthropy—the example given is the offering of ticket meals (salākabhatta) to ascetics.

Kulavaṃsaṃ saṇṭhapessāmīti mātāpitūnaṃ santakaṃ khettavatthuhiraññasuvaṇṇādiṃ avināsetvā rakkhantopi kulavaṃsaṃ saṇṭhapeti nāma. Mātāpitaro adhammikavaṃsato hāretvā dhammikavaṃse ṭhapentopi, kulavaṃsena āgatāni salākabhattādīni anupacchinditvā pavattentopi kulavaṃsaṃ saṇṭhapeti nāma. Idaṃ sandhāya vuttaṃ – ‘‘kulavaṃsaṃ saṇṭhapessāmī’’ti.

“‘I will uphold the family lineage’ means: By safeguarding the possessions handed down by one’s parents—such as fields, lands, gold, silver, and the like—without destroying them, one is said to uphold the family lineage. By preventing one’s parents from falling into an unrighteous lineage and instead establishing them in a righteous lineage, one is said to uphold the family lineage. By continuing the offerings and alms connected with the family lineage, such as the distribution of tickets for communal meals (salākabhattā), without cutting them off, one is said to uphold the family lineage. It is with reference to this that the phrase ‘I will uphold the family lineage’ is spoken.”

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